Eritrea keen to host Somalia-Somaliland talks, says deputy PM

MOGADISHU, Somalia – Eritrea has joined countries have shown interest in facilitating prospective talks between Somalia’s Federal Government and the breakaway region of Somaliland, Garowe Online reports.

The country’s deputy Prime Minister, Mahdi Mohamed Guled sees Asmara’s role in Somalia-Somaliland talks “important”, saying the East African nation is working to bring both sides to negotiating table.

There have been no negotiations following the collapse of the last meeting in Turkey March 2015 and since then any attempts to revive them have not been successful.

Somaliland canceled its participation similar talks in Djibouti last year after a fall-out with the Federal Government of Somalia over the Berbera port deal row with the United Arab Emirates [UAE].

Somaliland which declared unilateral independence from the rest of Somalia in 1991 has been seeking international recognition, however, their efforts haven’t so far proved victorious.

There are many countries, including Sweden, Turkey, Ethiopia, Djibouti and EU members actively jockeying for the opportunity to hold the talks on the unity of the Horn of Africa country.

Eritrea’s foreign affairs minister, Osman Salah paid a visit to Somaliland last March and held a meeting with President Muse Bihi in Hargeisa before his trip to Mogadishu the following month, beginning arbitration.

GAROWE ONLINE